Renewable energy engineer
Also called Sustainable energy engineer, green energy engineer.
Renewable energy engineers research and develop ways to generate sustainable power from wind, solar, hydrogen and biomass resources.
- Potential salary
- £31,000 starter to £61,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 37 to 42 a week. Working pattern: evenings / weekends away from home.
- Career area
- Engineering
- Where they might work
- You could work in an office, in a laboratory, at a power station or on a rig.
- A typical task
- research ways to harness renewable sources of energy
- Subjects that may help
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
- Typical route
- You can do a degree in an engineering or a scientific subject. Some employers might expect you to have a postgraduate qualification.
- Interest area used here
- Asking questions and research, Making, fixing and working outdoors
What you might do
- research ways to harness renewable sources of energy
- work on increasing energy production trials to a larger scale
- do studies to see if a location can be used as a potential generation site
- help to design and build power plants, instruments and equipment
- advise companies on how to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy
- find ways to make current technology like solar panels and batteries more efficient
More tasks (2)
- collect, analyse and present data on energy production
- manage maintenance and service schedules, fix problems and co-ordinate staff
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- thinking and reasoning skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
More skills
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- to be flexible and open to change
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Routes into this career
University route
- You can do a degree in an engineering or a scientific subject. Some employers might expect you to have a postgraduate qualification.
- Relevant subjects include:
- energy engineering
- Earth sciences
- environmental engineering
- geophysics
- renewable or sustainable energy
- Getting work experience during your studies through a summer internship or year placement scheme can give you an advantage when you start looking for work.
- Your university careers service can help you find opportunities.
- You'll usually need:
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
University courses that could lead to this career
These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.
- Chemical engineering
Alternative route. Process and energy modules can lead towards energy roles.
- Civil engineering
Alternative route. Possible in water, infrastructure or energy modules. A dedicated energy degree is closer for some jobs.
- Electrical and electronic engineering
Alternative route. Power engineering modules are the relevant part.
- Energy and renewable energy engineering
Direct qualifying route. A close title. Mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering are also common routes.
Career progression
- With experience, you could become a senior engineer or asset manager. You could be responsible for a number of power generation sites across a particular area, for example a wind farm.
- You could also move into:
- energy planning
- policy development
- contracts, bids and tenders for renewable energy technology
- freelance consultancy
Subjects that may help
Subject guidance
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study